Photodynamic Therapy

“Photodynamic therapy is today’s leading non-surgical miracle for aging skin, acne, and skin cancer. A small vial of clear, painless, liquid brilliantly erases decades of aging skin including sun damage, wrinkles, dilated capillaries, and early skin cancers. This “youth serum” is also a God-send for teens as it cures even the most stubborn cases of moderate to severe acne.”

What is photodynamic therapy (PDT)?

Photodynamic therapy is a leading non-surgical treatment for Acne, pre-cancerous skin lesions (actinic keratosis), early forms of non-melanoma skin cancer (basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma), rosacea, and sun-damaged skin. In addition to being both curative and preventative for most early skin cancers, patients achieve amazing cosmetic benefits from one to two treatments.

How Does Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) Work?

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT), relies on the use of a naturally occurring enzyme, 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA). When applied directly to the skin, ALA (Levulan™) is selectively absorbed by rapidly growing cells such as non-melanoma skin cancers, pre-cancers, and sunspots. ALA is also absorbed by sebaceous glands and the acne-causing bacteria (P. acnes). Within these cells, ALA reacts with oxygen and becomes highly excitable when exposed to specific wavelengths of light energy. In this excitable state, ALA destroys the unhealthy cells that make up certain skin cancers, pre-cancers (actinic keratoses), acne, and sebaceous hyperplasia. PDT treatments improve sun damage, blotchy pigmentation, fine lines and acne scars leaving skin firmer, tighter and more youthful.

What does Photodynamic Therapy Treatment Involve?

Pre-treating the skin with a light microdermabrasion or a light chemical peel to help exfoliate the top layer of skin cells and allow the process to work more effectively.

The skin is then degreased with acetone.

The PDT solution, Levulan, is painlessly applied to the treatment area and allowed to incubate for 30 – 90 minutes.

PDT solution is then activated by special wavelengths of light for 15-18 minutes.

Several Light sources may be used to drive the solution deeper into the skin for greatest cosmetic results.

PDT Treatments are virtually painless and you leave the office feeling like you have a mild to medium sunburn. Over the next several days, the unhealthy cells rapidly flake and peel off, leaving healthy new skin behind.

These FDA- approved treatments are non-invasive, non-scarring, less painful, and overall more effective than surgery, freezing, or topical chemotherapy creams such as 5-FU and Imiquimod for treatment of sun damage and pre-cancerous cells.

What are the Advantages of Photodynamic Therapy PDT Treatments for treatment of skin cancers and pre-cancers?